In December, Michigan’s season looked to be in jeopardy, with a 6-4 record and preseason All-America Mitch McGary out indefinitely because of a back injury.

The Wolverines announced that McGary would have surgery and be out indefinitely during his recovery. Things have worked out well for U-M (27-8), with a regular-season Big Ten title and a second straight trip to the Sweet 16.

But McGary still hasn’t returned yet – and with only two weeks potentially left in the season, it’s not certain that he will play again this season.

Coach John Beilein said Monday that McGary considered having back surgery in November — and possibly could have returned for the postseason run — but it never materialized.

“The one advantage we did have is that we prepared Plan B. He was out all through September, October and half of November,” Beilein said on CBSSports Radio’s John Feinstein Show. “We had this plan in place if (the back) did not come along.

“We were prepared probably for surgery maybe at the beginning of November and maybe he might be back at the end of the year.”

The Wolverines were 4-4 in eight games with McGary in the lineup, with the last being a loss at home to Arizona on Dec. 14. McGary, who averaged 9.3 points and 8.5 rebounds, also missed the first two games of the regular season after injuring the back in the summer.

It’s unclear what initially caused the injury, as Beilein and McGary have not elaborated publicly on the details.